‘Incredibly rare’ prehistoric fish shocks angler as he reels it in from Kansas River

An angler recently reeled in an “incredibly rare” and prehistoric fish while fishing in Kansas, according to state wildlife officials.

Kevin Zirjacks was casting his line in the Kansas River when he hooked something few sportsmen ever see in Kansas, and that even fewer have captured.

“I knew I had a special fish once I landed (it),” Zirjacks said in a social media post by the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. After catching the large fish, he reached out to the department to confirm its identity.

It was a sturgeon, officials told him. Specifically, a lake sturgeon.

“Prior to this capture, our KDWP survey biologists have only recorded 15 other Lake Sturgeon captures over the last 25+ years,” the department said.

It’s not clear just how many lake sturgeon reside in Kansas’ waterways, but in neighboring Missouri, they’re considered endangered.

As a species, sturgeon are one of the oldest still swimming.

Having first emerged over 120 million years ago, they lived alongside dinosaurs and survived the catastrophic hurdles and curveballs that those larger beings couldn’t. In some ways, sturgeon are dinosaurs themselves, with the armor plates lining their long, sleek bodies speaking to that heritage.

Sturgeon outlived the triceratops, and with a lifespan of 80 years — or much, much longer by some estimates— there’s a good chance they’ll outlive you too.

“Never thought I would ever see one of these dinosaurs, let alone be able to actually hold one,” Zirjacks said. “Definitely a catch I will remember for the rest of my life!”

Lucky for the sturgeon, Zirjacks wasn’t looking for a trophy. After snapping a few pictures, he released the fish back to its river, he said.

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